Ireland's prime minister has hailed the culmination of "a quiet revolution" in what was once one of Europe's most socially conservative countries after a landslide referendum vote to liberalise highly restrictive laws on abortion. Voters in the once deeply Catholic nation backed the change by two to one, a far higher margin than any opinion poll in the run up to the vote had predicted, and allows the government to bring in legislation by the end of the year. "It's incredible. For all the years and years and years we've been trying to look after women and not been able to look after women, this means everything," said Mary Higgins, obstetrician and Together For Yes campaigner. Read more: Irish PM hails 'resounding' abortion Yes For decades, the law forced more than 3000 women to travel to Britain each year for terminations and "Yes" campaigners argued that with others now ordering pills illegally online, abortion was already a reality in Ireland. The campaign was defined by women publicly sharing their painful experiences of leaving the country for procedures, a key reason why all but one of Ireland's 40 constituencies voted "Yes". Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who campaigned to repeal the laws, had called the vote a once-in-a-generation chance and voters responded by turning out in droves. A turnout of 64 per cent was one of the highest for a referendum. "Today is a historic day for Ireland. A quiet revolution has taken place," Varadkar, who became Ireland's first openly gay prime minister last year, said on Saturday in a speech after the vote. "Everyone deserves a second chance. This is Ireland's second chance to treat everyone equally and with compassion and respect. We have voted to look reality in the eye and we did not blink." The outcome is a new milestone on a path of change for a country which only legalised divorce by a razor thin majority in 1995 before becoming the first in the world to adopt gay marriage by popular vote three years ago. Anti-abortion activists conceded defeat early on Saturday as their opponents expressed astonishment at the scale of their victory. MPs who campaigned for a "No" vote said they would not seek to block the government's plans to allow abortions with no restriction up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy. Voters were asked to scrap the constitutional amendment, which gives an unborn child and its mother equal rights to life. The country's largest newspaper, the Irish Independent, described the result as "a massive moment in Ireland's social history". Campaigners for change, wearing "Repeal" jumpers and "Yes" badges, gathered at count centres, many in tears and hugging each other. Others sang songs in the sunshine outside the main Dublin results centre as they awaited the official result. The large crowd cheered Varadkar as he took to the stage to thank them for "trusting women and respecting their choices". Australian Associated Press

Ireland votes overwhelmingly to end abortion ban | Photos

Ireland votes overwhelmingly to end abortion ban | Photos

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. The first official results for Ireland's landmark abortion referendum have begun to come in, indicating a landslide win for abortion rights campaigners is likely in diverse constituencies across the country. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Members of the public celebrate at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, May 26, 2018, after the results of the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution which prohibits abortions unless a mother's life is in danger. Picture: Niall Carson(/PA via AP

A campaigner listens to the announcement in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, May 26, 2018, of the final referendum results as Ireland has voted to repeal the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution which prohibits abortions unless a mother's life is in danger. Picture: Niall Carson/PA via AP

People from the "Yes" campaign react after the final result was announced in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, May 26, 2018. Ireland appeared to move away from its conservative Roman Catholic roots and embrace a more liberal view Friday as two major exit polls predicted voters had repealed a constitutional ban on abortion. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar speaks to the media at Dublin Castle following the announcement of the official results of the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Varadkar said after official results showed more than two-thirds of voters backed repealing Ireland's constitutional abortion ban that he wants to make sure there are fewer crisis pregnancies and better sex education in schools going forward. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA via AP

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar embraces Senator Ivana Bacik on arrival at Dublin Castle in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018, for the results of the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution which prohibits abortions unless a mother's life is in danger. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA via AP

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. The first official results for Ireland's landmark abortion referendum have begun to come in, indicating a landslide win for abortion rights campaigners is likely in diverse constituencies across the country. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People celebrate at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018, as the official results of the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution are announced in favor of the yes vote. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA via AP

Yes cards at the count centre in Dublin's RDS as votes are counted Saturday May 26, 2018, in Dublin, Ireland, for the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution which prohibits abortions unless a mother's life is in danger. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA via AP

A woman breaks down in tears Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Dublin, Ireland, as the results are announced in the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution which prohibits abortions unless a mother's life is in danger. Picture: Niall Carson/PA via AP

People from the "Yes" campaign react after the final result was announced in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, May 26, 2018. Ireland appeared to move away from its conservative Roman Catholic roots and embrace a more liberal view Friday as two major exit polls predicted voters had repealed a constitutional ban on abortion. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

A woman from the "Yes" campaign reacts after the final result was announced in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, May 26, 2018. Ireland appeared to move away from its conservative Roman Catholic roots and embrace a more liberal view Friday as two major exit polls predicted voters had repealed a constitutional ban on abortion. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

A man from the "Yes" campaign poses for a photograph as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. A leading anti-abortion group says Ireland's historic abortion referendum has resulted in a "tragedy of historic proportions" in a statement that all but admits defeat, as two exit polls predict an overwhelming victory for those seeking to overturn the country's strict ban on terminations. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. The first official results for Ireland's landmark abortion referendum have begun to come in, indicating a landslide win for abortion rights campaigners is likely in diverse constituencies across the country. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution are heard, at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Abortion rights activists proclaimed victory for Irish women Saturday as referendum results indicated voters in largely Roman Catholic Ireland overwhelmingly backed repealing a 1983 constitutional ban on abortions. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

A woman from the"Yes" campaign reacts after the final result was announced in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Ireland appeared to move away from its conservative Roman Catholic roots and embrace a more liberal view Friday as two major exit polls predicted voters had repealed a constitutional ban on abortion. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

A woman from the "Yes" campaign reacts as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. The first official results for Ireland's landmark abortion referendum have begun to come in, indicating a landslide win for abortion rights campaigners is likely in diverse constituencies across the country. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes are celebrated, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Abortion rights activists proclaimed victory for Irish women Saturday as referendum results indicated voters in largely Roman Catholic Ireland overwhelmingly backed repealing a 1983 constitutional ban on abortions. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Abortion rights activists proclaimed victory for Irish women Saturday as referendum results indicated voters in largely Roman Catholic Ireland overwhelmingly backed repealing a 1983 constitutional ban on abortions. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Abortion rights activists proclaimed victory for Irish women Saturday as referendum results indicated voters in largely Roman Catholic Ireland overwhelmingly backed repealing a 1983 constitutional ban on abortions. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react, as the results of the votes begin to come in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Ireland appeared to move away from its conservative Roman Catholic roots and embrace a more liberal view Friday as two major exit polls predicted voters had repealed a constitutional ban on abortion. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. The first official results for Ireland's landmark abortion referendum have begun to come in, indicating a landslide win for abortion rights campaigners is likely in diverse constituencies across the country. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the"Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. A leading anti-abortion group says Ireland's historic abortion referendum has resulted in a "tragedy of historic proportions" in a statement that all but admits defeat, as two exit polls predict an overwhelming victory for those seeking to overturn the country's strict ban on terminations. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react, as the results of the votes begin to come in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Ireland appeared to move away from its conservative Roman Catholic roots and embrace a more liberal view Friday as two major exit polls predicted voters had repealed a constitutional ban on abortion. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the"Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. A leading anti-abortion group says Ireland's historic abortion referendum has resulted in a "tragedy of historic proportions" in a statement that all but admits defeat, as two exit polls predict an overwhelming victory for those seeking to overturn the country's strict ban on terminations. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react, as the results of the votes begin to come in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Ireland appeared to move away from its conservative Roman Catholic roots and embrace a more liberal view Friday as two major exit polls predicted voters had repealed a constitutional ban on abortion. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, centre, reacts with a member of the "Yes" campaign as the results of the votes begin to come in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. The first official results for Ireland's landmark abortion referendum have begun to come in, indicating a landslide win for abortion rights campaigners is likely in diverse constituencies across the country. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the "Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. The first official results for Ireland's landmark abortion referendum have begun to come in, indicating a landslide win for abortion rights campaigners is likely in diverse constituencies across the country. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, centre, reacts with people from the "Yes" campaign as the results of the votes begin to come in the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. A leading anti-abortion group says Ireland's historic abortion referendum has resulted in a "tragedy of historic proportions" in a statement that all but admits defeat, as two exit polls predict an overwhelming victory for those seeking to overturn the country's strict ban on terminations. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

People from the"Yes" campaign react as the results of the votes begin to come in, after the Irish referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution at the RDS count centre, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday May 26, 2018. A leading anti-abortion group says Ireland's historic abortion referendum has resulted in a "tragedy of historic proportions" in a statement that all but admits defeat, as two exit polls predict an overwhelming victory for those seeking to overturn the country's strict ban on terminations. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Ireland's prime minister has hailed the culmination of "a quiet revolution" in what was once one of Europe's most socially conservative countries after a landslide referendum vote to liberalise highly restrictive laws on abortion.

Voters in the once deeply Catholic nation backed the change by two to one, a far higher margin than any opinion poll in the run up to the vote had predicted, and allows the government to bring in legislation by the end of the year.

"It's incredible. For all the years and years and years we've been trying to look after women and not been able to look after women, this means everything," said Mary Higgins, obstetrician and Together For Yes campaigner.

For decades, the law forced more than 3000 women to travel to Britain each year for terminations and "Yes" campaigners argued that with others now ordering pills illegally online, abortion was already a reality in Ireland.

The campaign was defined by women publicly sharing their painful experiences of leaving the country for procedures, a key reason why all but one of Ireland's 40 constituencies voted "Yes".

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who campaigned to repeal the laws, had called the vote a once-in-a-generation chance and voters responded by turning out in droves. A turnout of 64 per cent was one of the highest for a referendum.

"Today is a historic day for Ireland. A quiet revolution has taken place," Varadkar, who became Ireland's first openly gay prime minister last year, said on Saturday in a speech after the vote.

"Everyone deserves a second chance. This is Ireland's second chance to treat everyone equally and with compassion and respect. We have voted to look reality in the eye and we did not blink."

The outcome is a new milestone on a path of change for a country which only legalised divorce by a razor thin majority in 1995 before becoming the first in the world to adopt gay marriage by popular vote three years ago.

Anti-abortion activists conceded defeat early on Saturday as their opponents expressed astonishment at the scale of their victory. MPs who campaigned for a "No" vote said they would not seek to block the government's plans to allow abortions with no restriction up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy.

Voters were asked to scrap the constitutional amendment, which gives an unborn child and its mother equal rights to life.

The country's largest newspaper, the Irish Independent, described the result as "a massive moment in Ireland's social history".

Campaigners for change, wearing "Repeal" jumpers and "Yes" badges, gathered at count centres, many in tears and hugging each other. Others sang songs in the sunshine outside the main Dublin results centre as they awaited the official result.

The large crowd cheered Varadkar as he took to the stage to thank them for "trusting women and respecting their choices".